ON GUANO, AND ITS COMPARATIVE MERITS. 193 



broiig'lit from Saklanlia Bay and Patagonia. Tlie former 

 variety contained 70 or 80 per cent, of phospliorus, and was 

 very rich, and tlie Patagonian g-uano was as good as tlie better 

 qualities of Iclniboe guano. It was a subject of congratula- 

 tion, that on the coast of Patagonia there was a very large 

 supply of guano, and he hoped that the guano from all parts 

 of the world would last the farmers as long as they would 

 require it ; and that by the time this manure failed they 

 would be able to dispense with it. He thought it a most 

 G'ratifvin^' circumstance that Providence had thus interfered 

 to cause knowledge in these matters to now in the right 

 channel. When guano failed, still the use of artificial 

 manures would not stop. He anticipated that artificial 

 manures would then be prepared, if not b}' manufacturers, 

 at least by the farmers themselves, many of whom would be 

 able to prepare them. Tlieir business at present, however, 

 was with guano as they found it. Three or 4 cwt. of guano 

 was equal to 20 or 30 tons of farm-yard manure. He had 

 stated its theoretical value, and if the time vvould have per- 

 mitted him to explain all the things the plant requires, he 

 could have shown them that this guano, to a great extent, 

 supplies all the demands of the crop. The result of his 

 inquiries in the country had shown that it was better hus- 

 bandry to use guano and farm-yard manure in due proportions ; 

 or, if they did not do that, to use guano the first year and farm- 

 yard manure the next. But in his opinion the safest way, in 

 all cases, would be to use the proper proportion of dung and 

 guano, as larger crops, generally speaking, had been obtained 

 in this manner. He thought it was not the best, or the most 

 economical method to use guano in a dissolved or liquid state. 

 He then alluded to the great analogy which exists between 

 guano and bones, explaining, however, that guano acts more 

 quickly than bones. He next noticed some experiments 

 which had been made in Ross-shire, Scotland, with guano. 

 A gentleman named Ross, who resides in that county, which 

 contains some as good land, and as good farmers, as in York- 

 shire, wrote to his grieve or bailiff to apply guano to the 

 land in the ratio of 4 cwt. to the acre. The grieve thinking 

 his employer must be wrong, applied the guano in three 

 several proportions. To one part he applied 4 cwt., to 

 another 8 cwt., and to a third IG cwt. The consequence 

 was, that on the land where 4 cwt. were applied beautiful 

 crops appeared, whilst the contrary was the case with the 

 other jjortions, especially with regard to that portion to 



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